Bright future ahead for female engineering apprentice

When Paris McCann first stepped through the doors of Buckley Systems Ltd, she never dreamed she would become an apprentice - but fast forward four years and all that has changed. Now, she’s forging an exciting career in the manufacturing sector and is set to become one of the first-ever Buckley employees to complete a general engineering apprenticeship.

“I initially joined Buckley as an Assembly Technician, but when they offered me an apprenticeship through Competenz I jumped at the opportunity,” says the Mt Wellington resident.  “I like to learn new things, and the chance to study and work at the same time was just too good to turn down.”

Buckley Systems Ltd is considered a breeding ground for top-tier engineering talent, and although they’ve long offered apprenticeships in machining, fabrication and electrical engineering, general engineering is a recent addition. That spells great news for aspiring tradies like Paris.

“The biggest highlight for me has been furthering my knowledge in areas I didn’t know much about,” she says. “Through this apprenticeship I’ve been able to learn new skills and develop my problem solving capabilities, and although the block courses pushed me out of my comfort zone, I got through them and they weren’t actually as hard as I thought they’d be!”

The secret to her success? According to Competenz training advisor Luke van den Bos, a lot of it comes down to mindset.

“Paris is motivated to complete and she works hard to keep herself on target,” says Luke. “When she was first employed at Buckley, taking on an apprenticeship wasn’t something she had considered so I’m extremely happy that the opportunity was offered to her, and she’s been able to embrace it, commit to it, and see it through.

“Like I always tell my learners, completing an apprenticeship not only gives you the trade skills and better employment opportunities, but it also shows employers that you can commit to training and be trained when asked. This speaks volumes to an employer and if they know this, they are far more likely to invest in upskilling you in the future.”

Paris’s efforts have certainly shown Buckley Systems Ltd HR Business Partner Petra Sutherland that she’s got what it takes to thrive in the fast-paced world of precision electromagnet manufacturing.

“With mentoring from a senior technician, Paris has become a reliable and focused employee and she has proven to be organised and determined, managing her day job and the paperwork demands of the apprenticeship,” says Petra. “Paris serves as a great example to other young employees who might be considering an apprenticeship.”

Buckley Systems Ltd is one of Australasia’s largest engineering operations, and their dedicated focus on training and succession has been a cornerstone of success. Currently they have 23 Competenz apprentices in training across machining, fabrication, electrical and general engineering strands.

“Investing in training generally – but specifically apprenticeships - grows our talent and skilled workforce. Many of our apprentices have moved into other roles over the years and now occupy management and senior management roles in the business.”

And although most people stay, even if they don’t, it’s not a bad thing.

“We have a very loyal workforce and incredibly low turnover but occasionally a newly qualified tradesperson goes off into the big wide world to make a contribution to another company in the wider industry.”

Engineering may still be a male dominated sector, but Petra says there is nothing to stop girls and women pursuing careers in the field. She encourages it.

“Over the last five years our female workforce has grown to nearly 20 percent which is pretty high for an engineering firm. Women are employed in nearly every department of our business. They can bring everything men can bring to the engineering industry – and more. We’ve noticed that women in our business have excellent attention to detail, patience, teamwork and determination. They are collaborative, and as we discovered when Paris started working with her mentor in the workshop, the presence of women on the floor can contribute different perspectives to the workplace.”

When it comes to engineering, gender is no barrier, and with more women like Paris, the industry will be well-positioned for the future.